California's Zohran Mamdani? This Teacher talks Black and Arab Unity Against Blue MAGA and Zionism

This episode of Habibi House features Dr. Rudolph “Butch” Ware — historian, author, and one of the most important living scholars of Islam, Black liberation, and decolonial thought. A professor of history at UC Santa Barbara, Ware sits down with us to unpack the stories that empire tried to bury: stories of Sufi rebellion, revolutionary faith, and the sacred legacy of Black Muslims in shaping not just Islam — but global freedom movements.WHAT WE TALK ABOUT:Why there is no Islam without Black peopleHow Sufi orders led anti-colonial revolts across West AfricaWhy liberals fear true solidarity between Black and Arab communitiesWhat it means to reclaim Islam from both empire and whitenessMalcolm X, Palestine, and the revolutionary roots of faithWhy Ware says Islam is inherently radical, and liberals won’t save usHow storytelling, family, and love serve as tools for resistanceWHO IS BUTCH WARE?Rudolph “Butch” Ware is a historian of West Africa, Islam, and the Black Muslim world. He’s the author of The Walking Qur’an: Islamic Education, Embodied Knowledge, and History in West Africa, and a leading voice in challenging Western narratives around Islam and African history. He speaks at the intersection of Sufism, slavery, liberation theology, and Black diasporic spirituality. His work dismantles colonial myths and re-centers the sacred in our understanding of resistance.KEY QUOTES FROM THE EPISODE:“There is no such thing as Islam without Black people. Islam didn’t just show up in Africa — it was born in Africa.”“When the empire suppresses love, joy, and memory — storytelling becomes a revolutionary act.”“Liberalism is fine with coexistence, as long as it doesn’t disrupt the structure of violence. That’s not liberation.”WHY THIS CONVERSATION MATTERSAt a time when Muslim identity is either flattened or weaponized, Dr. Ware reminds us that faith has always been a tool of both survival and struggle. In a world where Gaza is burning, ICE is raiding, and history is being rewritten in real time, this episode offers truth — rooted in legacy, memory, and resistance.0:00 Intro – Who is Butch Ware?1:35 Growing up Muslim, Southern, and Black4:00 There is no Islam without Black people7:12 How Sufism sparked anti-colonial revolts10:05 Blackness, slavery, and prophetic tradition13:45 Liberalism vs. Revolutionary Islam16:30 Islamophobia, empire, and the theft of history20:55 Malcolm X and Gaza: Solidarity across struggle24:30 Love, storytelling, and decolonizing spirituality29:45 Final message to young Muslims and Black ArabsABOUT HABIBI HOUSEHabibi House is a culture-forward, decolonial, and unfiltered podcast centering MENA voices and their intersections with global liberation. Hosted by Arab creatives, activists, and artists, each episode features unapologetic conversations with guests shaping the future of art, politics, and identity.🎧 Available on: YouTube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts🌐 Visit us at: https://thehabibihouse.com